Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro Review – Power and Portability in One Package

If you’re shopping for a high-end Windows laptop that balances power, portability, and premium design, the Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro is likely on your radar. Samsung has built a strong reputation in the laptop space, and the Galaxy Book series continues to impress—especially for professionals, creatives, and everyday users who want performance without sacrificing style.

The Galaxy Book 5 Pro follows up the well-received Galaxy Book 4 Pro, which debuted earlier in 2024. While the overall design remains largely unchanged—still ultra-sleek, lightweight, and business-ready—the real upgrades lie under the hood. With the latest Intel Core Ultra processors, enhanced AI capabilities, and a vibrant AMOLED display, Samsung is clearly aiming to deliver one of the most refined laptop experiences in its class.

During the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the chance to test the Galaxy Book 5 Pro extensively, from running heavy workloads and video calls to casual browsing and media streaming. In this hands-on review, I’ll share my in-depth experience with the device, covering its performance, battery life, display quality, and whether it truly earns its place among the best premium laptops available today.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Specification

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Price & Availability

You can grab the Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro online or in stores now, with the entry-level model starting at around £1,200 or $1,199 – $1,350. Check the shopping widget above to find the best online deals available today. This base model comes with a 14-inch screen, but you can opt for the 16-inch version, which I’m reviewing here, for about £200 or $200 more. If you want to boost the CPU, RAM, or storage, expect to pay a bit extra for those upgrades.

If you’re in the UK, you can buy directly from Samsung’s website for a smooth shopping experience. Want something more versatile? For a little more cash, you can get the 360-degree version, which has a screen that flips all the way back, letting you use it like a tablet. This laptop’s sleek design and powerful performance make it a great pick for work or play. Whether you’re browsing, working, or streaming, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro delivers a top-notch experience tailored to your needs.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Design & Display

It’s hard to argue against the Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro being one of the best-looking laptops you can pick up right now. When you see it, you’ll notice just how slim and clean the design is. The look is minimal, stylish, and professional. There’s only a small Samsung logo on the lid, and the smooth curves give it a refined feel that fits right in whether you’re at work, in a coffee shop, or relaxing at home.

If you go for the 16-inch model, you’ll get a full number pad on the keyboard, which is a huge plus if you do a lot of typing or number work. The large trackpad below is easy to use, giving you plenty of room to scroll and move around with comfort. Typing and navigating feel natural and smooth, making your day-to-day work easier.

This 16-inch version weighs just 1.56 kilograms and is only 12.5mm thick when closed, so it’s light enough to carry around without any trouble. While the build quality isn’t quite on par with some ultra-premium laptops—like those from Apple that cost twice as much—it still feels solid and well-made in your hands.

One of the best features of the Galaxy Book 5 Pro is its display. You’re getting a gorgeous 16-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2,880 x 1,800, which gives you a 16:10 aspect ratio. This taller screen format is great when you’re reading documents or browsing websites, giving you more vertical space. And even though you’ll get black bars when watching widescreen movies, they aren’t very distracting.

The screen is also a touchscreen, so if you like tapping and swiping directly on the display, you’ll find that useful. Personally, I don’t use that much, but having the option is great. The display is truly stunning—bright, vibrant, and full of detail. Samsung has long been known for making amazing screens for TVs and smartphones, and that same quality shows here. No matter what you’re viewing, everything looks sharp and beautiful.

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: Keyboard and Trackpad

The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro gives you a full-size keyboard, including a traditional number pad on the right. That’s a big plus if you work with numbers or just enjoy having a complete layout. You can also turn the white backlight on or off, which is helpful in low-light settings and makes the keyboard easy to use at night or in dim environments.

Typing on this chiclet-style keyboard feels good overall. It’s well-sized, and you’ll likely find it easy to get used to. However, the key travel is a bit shallow, which can make it feel slightly less satisfying compared to some bulkier laptops. That’s probably due to the thin design of the device. While the build quality and the display feel incredibly premium, the keyboard doesn’t quite match that same level—especially if you’re someone who’s used to the tactile feel of a ThinkPad keyboard.

You’ll also get a large trackpad, something that’s become a staple in Samsung Galaxy laptops. It works smoothly, with accurate cursor movement and a nice, responsive click. At first, the size might feel too big, but once you get used to it, it’s hard to go back. It’s well-positioned so it doesn’t interfere while you’re typing, and palm rejection works well. It’s a thoughtful design that enhances your experience.

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: Webcam, Microphone, Biometrics

The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro gives you a 2MP 1080p webcam, which is decent for everyday use. You’ll notice that the camera performs better in natural outdoor lighting compared to indoor settings. While it’s not the best webcam you’ll find on a laptop, it still gets the job done for video calls and virtual meetings. If you’re using it in good lighting conditions, your image will come through clearly enough for most situations.

Since this is a Copilot+ PC equipped with an NPU, you also get access to Windows Studio Effects. These include AI-powered features like automatic background blur and fake eye contact, which can be useful for looking your best in online meetings. It’s part of what makes this laptop feel modern and intelligent.

One thing you might miss here is a physical webcam shutter. If you’re privacy-conscious, this could be a drawback. On the bright side, the dual microphones deliver very clear audio. Samsung calls them “studio-quality,” and for virtual meetings, voice calls, or even light recordings, they sound excellent.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Features & Performance

My review laptop came with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of internal storage. It also features integrated Intel Arc graphics, which is more capable than older integrated options. For connectivity, you’re getting a solid selection of ports: an HDMI 2.1 port, two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, one USB 3.2 (USB-A) port, a 3.5mm headphone and mic combo jack, and a microSD card reader. That’s pretty impressive for a slim and lightweight device like this.

So, what do all those specs mean for your everyday use? In short, this is a fast, responsive laptop that’s built for smooth performance. Whether you’re browsing the web, streaming videos, or working in productivity apps, you won’t notice any lag or stuttering. Even with multiple apps running at the same time, everything stays quick and fluid. If your work involves video, photo, or audio editing, you’ll be happy to know it can handle that too—just not at the level of a high-end workstation. I was able to edit large photos and multitask without any slowdowns.

Now, this laptop doesn’t come with a dedicated GPU, so it’s not ideal if you’re a serious gamer. However, the integrated Intel Arc graphics are good enough for casual gaming. You can run many modern games if you lower the graphics settings and don’t mind playing at lower frame rates. Older games and less demanding titles run pretty well, making this a decent option if you only play occasionally.

Heat and noise are often concerns with thin laptops, but not here. Even when I ran games, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro stayed fairly cool and quiet. It’s comfortable to use on your lap for long periods without it getting too warm. The keyboard and trackpad feel premium as well. They’re responsive and satisfying to use, although I’d say they’re just a notch below what you’d find on a MacBook.

Audio is another area where this laptop shines. It has a quad-speaker setup, including a small built-in subwoofer. The sound quality is surprisingly good, especially for something this slim. Whether you’re watching movies or listening to music, you’ll get rich sound with clear dialog and balanced tones. Dolby Atmos support adds even more depth to your listening experience.

Logging in is made easy thanks to the fingerprint sensor on the top right corner of the keyboard. It’s fast and reliable, giving you quick access to Windows, apps, and websites. There’s also a 2-megapixel webcam at the top of the display. It’s not amazing, but it gets the job done for video calls. If you want better quality, you can always plug in an external webcam.

Battery life is a standout feature. Even with the large, vibrant 16-inch display, I got about 10 to 11 hours of use per charge. That means you can leave the charger at home for most of the day. In a video playback test, I streamed content for an hour at 50% brightness and low volume. The battery dropped by just 8%, which suggests around 12 to 13 hours of video streaming time—very impressive.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: AI Features and Software

Your Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro comes loaded with AI-powered features that boost productivity and creativity. Powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors with a neural processing unit (NPU) delivering up to 47 TOPS, it supports Microsoft’s Copilot+ and Samsung’s Galaxy AI suite. AI Select, similar to Google’s Circle to Search, lets you circle images, text, or QR codes on the touchscreen to instantly search the web, making research or shopping a breeze.

Photo Remaster uses AI to enhance blurry or old photos, sharpening details for stunning results. With Microsoft Phone Link, you can sync your Galaxy phone to access calls, texts, and apps on your laptop’s 16-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, plus use Galaxy AI features like Live Translate and Chat Assist for seamless communication. The quad-speaker system with Dolby Atmos enhances audio for meetings or media, while Copilot+ offers real-time English captions for video calls.

Samsung Knox ensures secure on-device AI processing, keeping your data private. These features, combined with Windows 11 and a lifetime Microsoft Office 2024 license, make your Galaxy Book 5 Pro a smart, versatile workhorse.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro is a real treat to use. It checks all the boxes you’d want in your next laptop. You get a sleek and modern design, strong performance, long-lasting battery life, a vibrant screen, and a keyboard and trackpad that feel smooth and responsive. Whether you’re working, browsing, or watching videos, everything runs fast and looks great.

You’ll also appreciate the number of ports available, which make connecting your devices simple and hassle-free. The built-in speakers deliver surprisingly good sound for such a thin laptop. Altogether, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro stands out as one of the top choices if you’re looking for a lightweight laptop that doesn’t cut corners.

If you’re not a gamer or a creative professional who needs the absolute highest performance, this laptop should meet all your needs. It offers a balanced mix of speed, portability, and quality that’s hard to beat.

The price is fair, too. It’s not the cheapest laptop, but you get real value for your money. You can also choose from different configurations for processor, RAM, and storage to match your budget. Plus, you’ve got two screen sizes to pick from, giving you even more flexibility.